Hellobee Boards

I feel the EXACT same way.

Yes...I feel like they almost try to hard to be witty and likable. With that said, I do like their blog a lot!!

I kinda hate that they bought that new house in October and never mentioned it to anyone until now.. although i'm very excited about what they will do with it I am annoyed they did stuff for their current house for resale and acted like it was just because they liked it. Tan walls for Clara's room?

@walnutems: I think for me personally it's the $herdog thing it was funny once or twice...buuut not so much anymore. I had nothing but respect for them, they are super business savy! I drove through Richmond the other day and told DH my online friends lived there lmfao!

@MrsTiz: I sort of felt the same way about the news that they bought that house so long ago.

Anyway, part of me does feel like they try too hard but I do still really like them. I read the blog regularly. I think they seem like really nice people. I wish they could have done a book tour in the UK!

@MrsTiz: I can see that, it's a little weird!

@Reese: Totally agree on Bower Power, seems like she has her hands too full these days and can't make it all work!

I used to really like them but these days, I am a bit meh. I don't know,. it just feels a bit contrived now.

@MrsTiz: good point! That would make sense as to why they handled the same process 100% differently.

@walnutems: Yeah her updates seem so forced at this point. I totally understand that it must be hard with two kids.

I think for me when they were going through the book projects was hard. They were still trying to keep it fresh on the blog but they had limited time due to all the super secret book projects. so between the book, the tour and the new house, i think they've been a little distracted. I'm hoping with the new house they'll jump back in with renewed vigor.

Huge fan here too, I've been reading since just before they moved from their first house I think...
It's interesting to hear @Mrs. Bee 's take on the work-personal life balance (above) as presumably this was a major factor in them keeping quiet about house number 3! I'm sad to see them leave the current place just as the kitchen reno has truly finished but equally excited to see what they do over at the new place given they were obviously running out of big projects in the current house

I'm a huge fan of them, too. I don't read them religiously because of my feedler app being deleted when I bought a new phone.

I read them when they post on facebook.

They bought a new house? I need to go back and check.

It was very cool meeting them on their book tour.

ETA: Oh, the house is so cute. Ehh, doesn't bother me that they waited on telling us the news of their new house.

I've been on the behind the scenes of a popular website and there are some crazies out there to worry about. I'm happy for them!

I love them and still read their blog everyday! I skip over a lot their posts b/c they're too wordy. But I think they're very cute and I'm excited about the new house.

I am a huge fan and read it daily, but I get the sense that they resent the fact that the blog is their full time job and don't like being in the spotlight but are kind of stuck since this is the life they chose and it is clearly very lucrative for them. There have been some recent posts that came off that way (even though they obviously tried not to) like when they explained they were cutting the monthly post count to have more family time, when they posted about working smarter not harder, the post about sherry's non existant pregnancy and now the new house post.

It's like they don't want anyone to know anything about them and almost get affronted when people ask personal questions, but meanwhile they've been putting themselves out there from the start - it isn't a DIY only blog. They want to be able to share only certain things about themselves and sort of dont' realize that it doesn't work that way.

And I also think it's a little funny how they always act like they have no money, barely make anything and have to be super cheap on every purchase, meanwhile they've been paying two mortgages since the fall and they're both able to stay home full time to work on the blog. I feel like my intelligence is a little insulted and would prefer that they just say "okay we admit we're makign some real $ now"

@Modern Daisy: I don't feel insulted. I just read this post about how they kinda hate comments about how the 'book bought their house.' They say it's not true and they mention how the book industry really works. It was definitely enlightening to me because, at first, I did think, wow, they are making money that they could afford two mortgages.

From this post... http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/04/heres-the-thing/

This is not “the house the book bought” (we still haven’t hit our royalty point), it’s the house that seven years of saving up and living within our means bought. Had we strained our wallets and gone for a larger or more turn-key house back in 2006, we probably would’ve had a very different financial path, and most certainly would have had a different career path. So even though we had to wait a while, it just makes this new chapter in our lives that much sweeter. Who knows, we might just stay there forever…

http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/01/how-the-book-bid-ness-works-at-least-for-us/

ETA: They do mention that their first house was purchased with just John's income. Being a blogger and self employed wasn't enough for the banks. Then their second house was purchased with Sherry's income. This third house was the first time they could both qualify to buy a house. So good for them for buying houses that they could afford at the time with the ability to save for their dream house.

I read everyday and I really enjoy the things they do. I was kind of put off by their post about the new house though because it was so filled with defensive statements (like the one about the book.) It feels to me like they are really struggling with the boundaries and privacy element of things. I am always amazed at how personal some of the comments can get on their site and instagram. I really understand them wanting to pull back a bit but somehow it is coming off a bit awkwardly.

i like reading about their renos and the way they live their lives and run the blog and their home inspires me!

however i am not a huge fan of the cutesy tone/style of the blog -- that's why i was glad when they made each post much shorter. way easier to gulp down every day! i try to just get to the facts... haha. also i am not a fan of 'round-ups' and summaries. i'd rather a blog just not post for a day or two instead. just my personal preferences, though!

overall i definitely admire them! they work hard

@moderndaisy: 100% agree with you!!!

I like them and enjoy reading their blog and getting ideas for my own house even if my personal style is a bit different (I'm more into neutrals than bright colors) but overall they give great tips.

I see a lot on these forums about mom-judging and unwanted comments about pregnancy, or asking about when you'll have the baby etc -- basically overall getting annoyed by other people judging and asking questions. I think John and Sherry have to deal with that so much more, and if we personally don't like it we shouldn't do it to them. Yes, they put their lives in the public sphere, but if you don't like them then don't follow their blog. easy peasy. No need to criticize them